by At Beans and Burrs, we only recommend products we would use ourselves, and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
As I shared in several previous articles, I am obsessed with value. I love finding great products that deliver outstanding results for a reasonable price. Too often, there is a false perception that you must spend ridiculous money to enjoy great coffee at home. One of the reasons we created beansandburrs.com was to help coffee lovers get the same experience at home that they can get in the best coffee shops without breaking the bank. The Hario V60 pour-over brewer is a perfect illustration of that concept.
For transparency, I did not get anything from Hario; all the following is entirely my opinion with a V60 I purchased myself.
What is the Hario V60?
The Hario V60 is a very simple dripper that brews coffee using the pour-over method. It works with paper filters. It can fit directly on your coffee cup or a decanter. This simple brewer is a favorite of many world-class baristas since it allows, with a little technique, to brew a perfect cup of clean coffee.
If you go to a specialty coffee shop, chances are high that you will see either V60 pour-over sets on the counter.
Hario V60’s History
According to Hario UK, Hario started as a heat-proof glass manufacturer in Japan in 1921. They mainly manufactured glass products for scientific applications.
Throughout its history, Hario designed and manufactured several products for the coffee industry. The original concept of the V60, a conical coffee dripper with a 60 angle, dates from 1950. It was only in 2004 that the V60 design, as we know it today, was finalized. Hario added spiral ribs on the cone’s surface to “lift” the paper filter and increased the hole size at the Bottom. These improvements helped to let water flow naturally through the cone, which led to more clarity in the cup.
Other coffee drippers usually have a flat and closed bottom, which does not let the coffee flow as naturally. The V60 dripper and the Chemex are the 2 only pour-over brewers using that open cone design. Having tested different pour-over drippers, I prefer the coffee extracted by a V60 or a Chemex over other non-conical drippers. They always come cleaner and less “muddy.”
Hario v60 options
Hario proposes the V60 in ceramic, glass, BPA-free plastic, and metal. According to professional baristas, including James Hoffman, the plastic version produces the best results because it retains the best heat. This is excellent news because the plastic version costs half the price. A copper version is available, but it’s usually sold out.
Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper Pour Over Cone, Red. Photo from Amazon.
Hario “Cafeor” Stainless Steel Mesh Coffee Dripper, Black. Photo from Amazon.
Hario V60 Plastic Coffee Dripper, White. Photo from Amazon.
Hario V60 Metal Coffee Dripper, Silver. Photo from Amazon.
Hario V60 Copper Dripper. Photo from Amazon.
Hario proposes several sizes for the V60: the 01 (1-2 cups), the 02 (1-4 cups), and the 03. The 02 is the sweet spot since it excels for brewing a single cup, but it can also be used for brewing a small pot when you want to share your coffee with friends or family.
Hario also offers a variety of paper filters and accessories, such as coffee servers, drip coffee decanters, coffee scales, and pour-over sets to complement their famous little dripper.
HARIO 02 White Paper Filter. Photo from Amazon.
Hario V60 Glass Range Coffee Server, 600ml, Clear. Photo from Amazon.
Hario V60 Drip Coffee Decanter, 700ml, Black. Photo from Amazon.
Hario V60 Drip Coffee Pour Over Scale, Black. Photo from Amazon.
Brewing with the Hario V60
Brewing a cup or a pot of coffee with the Hario V60 is the same process I described in my article about the pour-over method.
If you are interested in brewing one cup at a time (15g coffee grounds – 225 g coffee), James Hoffman recently released a video optimizing the technique for getting the best results for a single cup. After the initial blooming (45 seconds), he recommends pouring hot water by increments of 50g with 10-15 second pauses between pours. With this method, the total brewing time should be around 2:30 minutes (with your coffee grind adequately adjusted). This method sensibly helps the quality of a single cup.
I use a Chemex at the office, and for some reason, I preferred it to my single cup brewed at home on the V60. After experimenting, I found that brewing my coffee in a decanter (I use my small french press for a single cup) and pouring it afterward in a pre-heated cup yields the best results. I tried brewing directly into my cup and using an intermediate vessel; for some reason, I always prefer the taste of coffee brewed in a different container first. It has to do with the slight cooling of the coffee when you pour it from the vessel to the cup.
The choice of filters can also influence the quality of your cup of coffee. The original V60 filters are designed to let the coffee flow faster, which helps with the clarity of the cup. These filters are a little pricey: about $6 for a box of 40 filters. There are off-brand options, but I love the results with the original, so I recommend them.
The Bottom line
I am fascinated by this little coffee dripper. This is one of the things I love about coffee: sometimes you don’t need to spend a fortune to brew the best coffee: a $10 dripper with delicious freshly ground coffee beans and a little experience with your pour-over technique can actually produce the best cup of coffee you ever had.
